Pen nib with spreader



Feb. 16, 1954 B, F, M [ESSNAER 2,669,224

PEN NIB WITH SPREADER Filed Oct. 24. 1950 Patented Feb. 16, 1954 A -very `genera-l ca'se'bi'` failure to write in fountain pens with su'icient ink supply, is a sedimentary deposit "of d'riedrink'*between` the"pen nibs.

If avpiece of hardk material. havingasharp edge be inserted between the pen nibs, it will spread the n-ibs'and-dislodgeorpush out anyl sedimentary deposits in f-thesnib slit so i-nkcan lflow into the verythinfspace betweenthe nibs to the writing point. It happens occasionally that paper fibers become lodged in the nib slit and blur or completely obstruct the ink flow.

It is therefore the object of this invention to provide means for spreading the pen nibs to easily and quickly remove any obstructing matter that may collect in said nib slit. The invention is illustrated in the attached drawing where- 1n,

Figure 1 is a partial enlarged View of a pen having my invention incorporated therein;

Figure 2 is a View similar to Figure 1 but turned 180;

Figure 3 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale showing a side View of my improvement;

Figure 4 is a view like Figure 3 but with the pen having just passed through a cleaning movement;

Figure 5 is a view on the line 5-5 of Figure 3;

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 5 but with the improvement piece in position to clear any obstruction from the nib slit;

Figure 7 is a plan view on an enlarged scale of another form of the invention;

Figure 8 is a longitudinal view of Figure 7 partly in section and partly in elevation;

Figure 9 is a view similar to Figure 7 but showing the parts in a different clearing position;

Figure 10 is a section on the line III- I0 of Figure 7;

Figure 11 is a section on the line II-II of Figure 7;

Figure 12 is a perspective view of the end of the slide toward the pen point nibs of Figure 8;

Figure 13 is a perspective view of the nib end of the pen point shown in Figure 8.

The arrows in Figures 4, 5, 6, 7', and 8 merely show the direction of movement of the parts.

In the various views I is the hood of a pen in which the sleeve or shank 2 of a pen per se is located around a tube 3 that may be an ink feed tube. The pen has nibs 4 and 5 having the usual slit 6.

Referring to the form shown in Figures 1-6.

Particularly; w'thfpen pointsof relatively stiff. .material or so hoodedthat wide spreading" `ofthe nibsfis not obtainablev by writing pressure.

2 thecpiece '-1 outy l ofl'fhardnon-corrosive emeta'l.

Ili'efpiece-A 1 has a 'sha-rp edge -3 which Vis located inf alignment Vwith I the nib* slit 'Vb-utf normally spaced blosel-ytherefromdirectly above-the slit S-fsorA thaty when the pen'f'is--turned 180 'frorm-norlrmalfwritingposition'as illustratedYf-i'n'y Fgureffl and thaw-protruding vendofipiece f1' is1 placed against1 a relatively solid-surface l'an'dftliehpen drawn'along` said/surface Wv-itlr3 pressure applied to the piece 1 the sharp edge 8 will be forced into the nib slit 6 as shown in Figure 6 and the obstructing matter will be pushed out as shown at 9 on the surface I0. The piece 1 is preferably made with a curved bend II therein which adds resilience to the piece, so when the pen is withdrawn from cleaning position as shown in Figure 4, the piece 1 will return to normal position as shown in Figure 3. In addition the bend II is preferably located opposite the ink feed opening I2 in the tube 3 and shank 2.

In the form shown in Figures 7-13, the shank 2 of the pen has two spaced parts I3 and I4 formed outwardly so as to form interior channels within which is located a slidable piece I5 on the end of which is carried a nib separator I 5 having a relatively sharp edge I1 that is in alignment with the slit 6. Preferably the hole I8 in the pen has its interior forward rim made with surfaces tapering toward the slit 6 so the edge I1 will readily find its way into the slit 6 on operating the slide I5 which is done by applying a pull to the projection I9. This may be done if the projection I9 is partly hidden within the end of the hood, by inserting a piece of wire having its end bent so as to engage the projection I9 to pull the slide I5 out to the position shown in Figure 9.

A stop 20 is provided on the inner end of the slide I5 which will engage the guide projection I3 as shown in Figure 9 thereby preventing the slide from being pulled out of position on the pen. The slide can be returned by pushing it back with a linger of the user. However, it is to be understood that the pen and hood can be constructed so the projection I9 may be engaged by an operators nger for pulling out the slide or the slide I5 can be extended out beyond the location of the separator II` so the projection I 9 can be readily engaged by the finger of a user, such extension would then be spaced from the nibs as is the piece 1 in Figure 3.

3 From what has been said, it is seen that the details may be varied to accomplish a very useful purpose and that the result can be quickly and easily attained.

Having thus described my invention, I claim: 1. A writing pen having a pen point with the usual nibs, a spreader for the nibs comprising a metal strip fastened to the shank of the pen point having a slit between its nibs, said strip extending over the top side of the pen nibs but spaced a very small distance therefrom, said strip having a sharp edge next to and in alignment with the slit between the nibs whereby when the pen is held in the reverse of writing position and pressure is applied to said strip by drawing the pen along with the strip in pressure engagement with a hard surface, said sharp edge will be forced into the slit in the nibs and will push out any obstructing matter therein.

2. A writing pen having a pen point with the usual nibs, a spreader for the nibs comprising a piece of hard material, preferably non-corrosive, fastened to the shank of the pen point having a hole therein and a slit between its nibs and up to the hole, the spreader extending over the top side of the pen nibs but normally spaced close to them, said piece having a sharp edge next to and in alignment with the slit between the nibs so when the pen is operated to put a drawing pressure on said piece its sharp edge will pass into the nib slit and push out any obstructing matter therein as the pen is drawn along on a hard surface to put a drawing pressure on said piece.

3. A writing pen having a pen point with the usual nibs, a spreader for the nibs comprising a piece of hard non-corrosive metal strip securely fastened to the shank of the pen point having a slit between its nibs, said strip extending over the top side of the pen nibs but normally spaced a very small distance therefrom, said strip having a sharp edge next to and in alignment with the slit'l between the nibs lwhereby when the pen is held in the reverse of'writing position and pressure is applied to said strip by drawing the pen along with the strip in engagement with a hard surface, said sharp edge will be forced into the slit in the nibs and will push out any obstructing matter therein.

4. A writing pen having a pen point with the usual nibs, a .spreader for the nibs as set forth in claim 2 further dened in that the piece has a curved bend in it over said hole as and for the purpose described.

BENJAMIN F. MIESSNER.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,172,342 Burgess Feb. 22, 1916 2,588,015 Kochendoerer Mar. 4, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 3,456 Great Britain 1913 

